A PARISH council has been criticised for displaying a notice asking for people to put their name down for one of 33 proposed affordable homes, before the application has been approved.

Dodderhill Parish Council was accused of creating a “clash of interests” between itself and residents as tempers flared at a public meeting last week.

Wychbold Development LLP and Fortis Living’s application to build the homes off Chequers Lane, Wychbold, has been met with strong opposition, resulting in a residents’ petition reaching nearly 250 signatures.

DPC voted against the application during a public meeting in January, before displaying the controversial poster on the village notice board at the request of the applicants.

Alyson Keane, council chairman, said: “The company that are looking at the Chequers Lane site has asked people within the community if this planning permission goes ahead, [would they be] interested in acquiring one of those homes, [and] could they contact them.

“They wanted to do a list of people within the village that might be interested before it goes out anywhere else.”

One member of the public said they questioned whether that was appropriate seeing as the council had objected to the plan.

Another resident said: “You represent the residents and you have a clash of interests.

"Can I ask why the council objections weren’t put on [the notice board]?”

The decision to put up the notice had been made by Nick Farress, council clerk, who said it was “not seen as being linked to the planning application per se.”

Cllr Keane said: “It was a notice we were asked to put up, we put the notice up.

"The same as the youth club asked us to put a notice up, we put a notice up. It is not a representation of the parish council.”

However, Cllr Doug Webb said he felt it appropriate for the council to now “discuss whether we have to have a policy decision or a policy in place” when taking similar actions in the future.

With the discussion then brought to an end by the chairman, former parish councillor Peter Evans, of Chequers Lane, said he agreed there was a conflict of interest.

Addressing Cllr Keane, he said, everything surrounding the application appeared “highly improper” – adding: “There are rumours and it would have been your chance to dispel those rumours.

“You’ve called it to a halt, it’ll come back next month because the rumours will continue, Alyson. Not a wise PR move at all.”

A decision on the application will be made by Wychavon District Council in the near future.